US House Wants Assessment of Crypto Investment in 401(K) Accounts

The U.S. House of Representatives has asked the government to look into the addition of crypto to 401(k) retirement plans. It cites volatility and a lack of oversight as concerns for inclusion.

The House is seeking to investigate retirement accounts that include cryptocurrencies as part of their portfolio. The House sent a letter to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), saying that there were concerns about the risks associated with cryptocurrencies, namely volatility and oversight.

It also wants the GAO to examine how crypto investment options are executed, and this concerns valuation, the types and degrees of fees, and safeguards. Lastly, it asks for an examination of the oversight of crypto in 401k plans.

The letter was sent by the Ways and Means Committee. Chairman Richard Neal spoke about the risk and how it might affect participants and sponsors.

“Concerns have arisen about the risks to older Americans’ retirement security of using retirement accounts to invest in cryptocurrencies due to their volatility and limited oversight…the Department of Labor cautioned that DC plan sponsors should exercise extreme care before they consider adding a cryptocurrency investment option to their plan, given the risks and complications these assets pose to both participants and sponsors,” he said.

Bitcoin in 401(k) plans becoming a reality

The House likely has retirement plan providers like Fidelity in mind, as the latter announced that it would offer the option of cryptocurrencies to be included in retirement accounts. It offers up to 20% of its portfolio to include crypto.

There have been several other political figures and companies working with the idea of allowing bitcoin in 401k plans. Mayor Francis Suarez of Miami said that he was keen on allowing this to happen, though there has been no update since.

However, the U.S. House has itself introduced a bill to allow bitcoin into 401k plans. The bill has seen some support from Republicans, though it is unclear whether it will actually pass. If so, it would be another huge milestone for bitcoin and alleviate some worry about the recent market crash.